Hundreds of prisoners escaped from Tambo de Mora prison, in the city of Chincha.

Tens of thousands of panicked Lima residents spent the night on the streets fearing more tremors.

Government aid

As rescuers scrambled through the debris, dazed residents guarded bodies in the street, not sure where to take them.

Jose Flores, a boy of about 12-years old, stood near the body of his dead mother on the pavement outside their destroyed home in Chincha.

"We don't know what to do. I don't know where to hold a wake for her... The wall just came down and crushed her when I was outside."

The health ministry made an emergency appeal for blood donations.

Carlos Vallejos, the health minister, travelled overnight to the town of Ica to survey the damage.

The government also sent a convoy of lorries to the region carrying medical supplies, doctors and nurses but damaged roads were hampering relief efforts.

The UN said it was ready to help and the International Federation of the Red Cross said two aeroplanes carrying tents, plastic covers, blankets and water canisters would leave Panama City for Lima on Thursday.

It was the biggest earthquake to hit the South American nation in decades.

The USGS said the quake was centred about 145km southeast of Lima at a depth of around 40km and was closely followed by nine aftershocks.